Frequently Asked Questions
My goal is to provide the highest-quality Rheumatology specialty care and service, emphasizing a proactive, comprehensive approach to disease management, prevention and wellness. In my office we follow enhanced and rigorous infection control protocols to help protect the health and well-being of our patients and staff in keeping with current public health safety guidelines. I strive to provide excellence in care that is both compassionate and truly patient-focused. From the moment you enter my office, I want you to be satisfied with every aspect of your care. In addition to in-office visits, telemedicine visits using telephone and/or video platforms are offered as an option, as applicable.
The size of the practice will be limited in order to devote more time to each patient’s care and individual needs. I also offer patients certain amenities that are not covered by insurance and benefits designed to personalize and enhance their health care experience. Patients will have reduced wait times and same or next day acute care appointments, as needed. This practice model also enables me to schedule longer patient appointments (approximately 30 minutes, or longer if needed). Also, you will be able to contact me directly on my personal cell phone and email, making it easier than ever to communicate.
I am a member of the Affiliate Medical Staff at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital.
My goal is to be available to my patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if needed for telephone, text message and/or email communication, with after-office hours availability should the need arise. However, there may be certain occasions when I am temporarily out of town, in a zone with poor cell phone reception, or otherwise unavailable immediately, in which case please leave me a voicemail, text message and/or email, to which I will respond as soon as possible. For any emergency matters, please proceed immediately to the nearest Emergency Department or call “911”.
Yes. Your annual membership fee only pays for the non-covered amenities and benefits that are described in the Highlights & Details document. The membership fee does not take the place of general health insurance coverage. You are advised to continue your preferred commercial insurance, or Medicare insurance with (or without) supplemental secondary insurance coverage.
I intend to remain an in-network provider for most major commercial insurance plans and our office will bill your insurance directly for such services that are covered by those plans. (Such services are not covered by your annual fee, including office visits and most procedures that we offer.) If the terms of your insurance plan(s) require a co-pay, I am obligated to request payment at the time of service. Even if I am not an in-network provider for your insurance plan, I will attempt to refer you to in-network physicians for any necessary consultations and to in-network facilities for diagnostic tests and hospitalizations as medically indicated. Those services will likely be covered by your insurance plan in accordance with your plan’s specific guidelines.
The annual fee is not reimbursable by your insurance plan(s).
Yes. My office will file your claims with Medicare as well as with your supplemental insurer on your behalf, as required by law. For any patients who have a Medicare Advantage plan, office visit fees and procedures that are not reimbursed by insurance will be the responsibility of the patient.
No. The annual fee only includes services and benefits described in the Highlights & Details document that are not covered by Medicare (or any other insurance payer) and that will not be paid for or reimbursed by Medicare.
In some instances, the annual fee, or part of the fee, may be payable through your HSA. You are advised to consult with your FSA or HSA plan administrator, employer, human resources representative or tax adviser to clarify qualification in your particular circumstance.
If you experience a medical emergency, proceed to the nearest Emergency Deportment or call 911 immediately. You may contact me subsequently if needed. I will remain available to you by phone, text and/or email no matter where you are located. If you come under the care of a physician or other medical care provider while away, I would be available for phone discussion with them if they would consider this helpful for your care, for example, if they need information about your case from our records.
I am available to assist in determining which other specialist(s) to see if medically indicated, and to coordinate such consultation(s). This can help to ensure that the most appropriate resource is selected, that referral is initiated, and that your applicable medical information is sent in advance of your visit. Please note that as the central focus of my practice is to provide Rheumatology specialty care, it is recommended that you remain under the concurrent care of your primary care provider.
Please see the Highlights & Details document for a complete list of amenities and benefits provided to my personalized care patients. Your annual fee pays for those non-covered services. Professional services that are covered by Medicare and/or by your commercial insurance plan will be billed separately and you will continue to be responsible for any applicable co-pays or deductibles relating to those services.
My office is located at 3280 Woods Way, Suite 1, Petoskey, MI 49770.
Your annual fee may be paid in full by check to: Northern Michigan Rheumatology PC or may be paid annually, semi- annually, or quarterly by ACH or credit card. If you opt for the semiannual, or quarterly payment option, the first payment will be charged to the bank account or credit card you indicate on your Membership Agreement form upon receipt of your executed enrollment form. The remaining balance of your annual enrollment fee (if any) will be charged automatically to your bank account or credit card in installments after your start date, accordingly. Unless we hear otherwise, payments will be processed on an ongoing basis.
Your annual fee pays for membership in the practice and for non-covered benefits. All medical procedures and services, whether performed by me in my office or by other providers or health care facilities, will be billed by the consulting physician and/or service provider or entity.
Yes. Paying your annual fee allows you to be a member of my practice and to remain in touch with me whether you are ill or doing well. Regardless of the number of actual office or telemedicine visits with me, maintenance of your necessary rheumatology medication refills, renewal of medication prior authorizations and orders, and monitoring of laboratory and other recurrent diagnostic tests, as applicable, need to be continued in many cases. I encourage you to utilize the benefits offered, regardless of your state of health, to proactively safeguard your well-being.
Your membership agreement can be terminated upon 30 days advance written notice to my practice. If you move, it would generally be advisable and recommended to establish care with another rheumatologist of your choosing in your new home area. Your annual fee would be refunded on a prorated basis. Medical records from our office from the preceding two years would be provided free of charge to you, or may be forwarded directly to your new physician upon receipt of a signed release request from you. (Additional records dating back prior to 2 years may be provided at a nominal per page fee, if requested.)
Please call our Patient Information Line at (231) 622-4141 to be connected to Specialdocs Consultants, an experienced company long respected for its expertise in concierge medicine who assists with the membership aspect of my practice. Their representatives welcome your call and are prepared to answer your questions and to address any concerns related to this program, including benefits, enrollment, membership billing and renewals.